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One Still Moment (see Image Story)
Place of Refuge, (Pu’uhonua o Honaunau) Big Island Hawaii is one of the truly magical places on this island and in this World for that matter. It’s a place to go really experience the essence of Hawaii and just unwind from whatever needs unwinding.
The bay reaches out far and is deep in parts but mostly protected from the open oceans waves and currents and offers a spectacular setting for viewing Green Turtles, fish of all kinds and Dolphins. It’s also a free divers paradise as there are plenty of deeper dives to really feel the pressure of the ocean surround you with decent visibility. On one such decent between 50 and 60 feet, I was able to hear the chattering of dolphins. I was planning on going down as far as I could to see where the bottom was, but their song stopped me in my tracks. I just hovered there still staring into the darkened blue and the last rays of sun-light streaming beams above me. Although they were laud I had no way of knowing which direction or really how close they actually were, so I just remained in suspended animation with my Nikonos V hoping to catch a glimpse for as long as my lungs would allow me.
After 30 or 40 more seconds a pod of more than fifty came up from behind me and soared by me in all directions. I vividly remember a mother and her baby swimming belly to belly as the just about hit my flippers underneath me. I almost forgot to swim back to the surface for air as I was so mesmerized by the event. The shot attached is one I took as I was reaching the surface. It was as if two of them lagged back and made sure I made it back safely. At least that is the story I like to believe.
Never the less, I had enough air and composure left to shoot this one last shot before giving shallow water blackout a chance to get me. I was alone out there and I at least had to make it back to develop this roll.